Pennsylvania SB 381: An Act amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in public safety, prohibiting certain animal experimentation and certain testing and sale of animal-tested cosmetics; and providing for remedies.

Bill Text

PRIOR PRINTER'S NOS. 328, 1101 PRINTER'S NO. 1157
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 381
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY MASTRIANO, COMITTA, FONTANA, BROOKS, PHILLIPS-
HILL, SCHWANK, KANE, BROWN, PISCIOTTANO, MUTH, KIM,
L. WILLIAMS, ARGALL, PENNYCUICK, ROBINSON AND PICOZZI,
MARCH 6, 2025
AS AMENDED ON THIRD CONSIDERATION, SEPTEMBER 9, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Title 35 (Health and Safety) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in public safety, prohibiting certain
animal experimentation, sale and testing and providing for
whistleblower protection; and imposing penalties.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Title 35 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes is amended by adding a chapter to read:
CHAPTER 58A
ANIMAL EXPERIMENTATION, SALE
AND CERTAIN TESTING PROHIBITED
Subchapter
A. Experimentation
B. Sale
C. Certain Testing Prohibited
D. REMEDIES
SUBCHAPTER A
EXPERIMENTATION
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Sec.
58A01. Definitions.
58A02. Prohibiting Commonwealth funding for painful CERTAIN
animal subject experimentation.
58A03. Compliance with cruelty of animal provisions for
Commonwealth funding.
58A04. Animal testing facilities and adoption of animal
subjects.
58A05. Disclosure requirements.
58A06 58A05 . Penalty.
58A07. Annual reporting on 58A06. DISCLOSURE OF Commonwealth-
funded animal research.
58A08. Annual report by recipients of Commonwealth funds.
58A07. REGULAR DISCLOSURE OF FEDERAL REPORTS.
§ 58A01. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this subchapter
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Animal subject." A dog or a cat.
"Animal testing facility." A facility, including a private
entity, State agency or institution of higher education, that
houses and uses animal subjects for research, education, testing
or other scientific or medical purposes. THE TERM SHALL NOT
INCLUDE DIAGNOSTIC, TREATMENT OR VETERINARY CARE OF ANIMAL
SUBJECTS.
"Commonwealth funds." Money of a fund or account in the
State Treasury of the Commonwealth.
"Institution of higher education." A State-owned university,
community college or State-related institution.
"Medically unnecessary." Not carried out solely for the
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better health, welfare or safety of an animal subject.
"Recipient of Commonwealth funds." A person, including a
public or private entity, to whom Commonwealth funds are paid.
"Releasing agency." As defined in section 901-A of the act
of December 7, 1982 (P.L.784, No.225), known as the Dog Law.
§ 58A02. Prohibiting Commonwealth funding for painful CERTAIN
animal subject experimentation.
(a) Use of funds.--A recipient of Commonwealth funds is
prohibited from using the Commonwealth funds to directly support
medically unnecessary research on animal subjects that is
classified under pain and distress categories "D" or CATEGORY
"E" by the United States Department of Agriculture.
(b) Applicability.--Subsection (a) does not apply to the
direct funding of research for the construction or maintenance
of facilities, the purchase or maintenance of general-use
equipment, overhead costs, capital improvements or faculty or
employee salaries.
§ 58A03. Compliance with cruelty to animal provisions for
Commonwealth funding.
An animal testing facility that receives Commonwealth funds
shall comply with 18 Pa.C.S. Ch. 55 Subch. B (relating to
cruelty to animals).
AN ANIMAL TESTING FACILITY THAT RECEIVES COMMONWEALTH FUNDS
SHALL COMPLY WITH:
(1) 18 PA.C.S. CH. 55 SUBCH. B (RELATING TO CRUELTY TO
ANIMALS); AND
(2) THE ACT OF DECEMBER 12, 1986 (P.L.559, NO.169),
KNOWN AS THE WHISTLEBLOWER LAW.
§ 58A04. Animal testing facilities and adoption of animal
subjects.
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(a) Requirements.--An animal testing facility that utilizes
animal subjects for scientific , educational or research purposes
and receives Commonwealth funds for those purposes shall, after
the completion of testing or research involving an animal
subject that does not require euthanasia of the animal subject
upon the termination of the study, as defined and approved by
the research or testing protocol, assess the health of the
animal subject and determine whether the animal subject is
suitable for adoption. The following shall apply:
(1) If the animal subject is determined to be suitable
for adoption, the animal testing facility shall offer the
animal subject for adoption to a releasing agency for
eventual adoption or through the animal testing facility's
adoption program to a private individual or employee for
adoption.
(2) If the testing facility operates its own adoption
program, it must maintain records in compliance with 3
Pa.C.S.